The Songs and the TunesTradition! Tradition!Here you will find a large
collection of songs in the Wassail Tradition. As you
can see it is a living tradition which has been
extended in recent times. The interesting thing about
tunes and the rhymes of verses is that some seem to be
quite universal. By this I mean that a rhyme scheme or
tune lends itself to adaptation and elaboration.
Essentially, this inspires creativity. In
addition to exploring and conotinuing existing
tradition I hope that we can also encourage the
extension of the tradition. You might find
some of these on video clck
here

Yorkshire Wassail1.We've beesn a -while a wandering
Amongst the leaves so green.
But now we come a wassailing
So plainly to be seen,

For it's Christmas time, when we travel far and near;
May god bless you and send you a happy New Year.

2.
We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door;
We are your neighbors children,
For we've been here before;
For it's, etc.
4.
Call up the butler of this house,
Likewise the mistress too,
And all the little children
That round the table go;
For it's, etc.
3.
We've got a little purse;
Made of leathern ratchin skin;
We want a little of your money
To line it well within;
For it's, etc.
5.
Bring us out a table
And spread it with a cloth,
Bring us out a mouldy cheese
And some of your Christmas loaf;
For it's, etc.

6.
Good master and good mistress,
While you're sitting by the fire,
Pray think of us poor children
That's wandered in the mire;
For it's, etc.

Old apple tree, we'll wassail thee,
And hoping thou wilt bear.
The Lord does know where we shall be
To be merry anither year.
To blow well and to bear well,
And so merry let us be;
Let ev'ry man drink up his cup
And health to the apple tree.

Wassail, wassail, out of the
milk pail,
Wassail, wassail as white as my nail,
Wassail, wassail, in snow, frost and hail,
Wassail, wassail, that much doth avail,
Wassail, wassail, that never will fail.-1550

Wassail, wassail, all over the town,
Our toast is white and our ale is brown,
Our bowl it is made of a maplin tree,
And so is good beer of the best barley.

Here's to the ox, and to his long horn;
May God send our maester a good crap o'corn!
A good crap o'corn, and another o'hay,
To pass the cold wintry winds away.

Here's to the ox, and to his right ear;
May God send our maester a happy New Year!
A happy New Year, as we all may see,
With our wassailing bowl we will drink unto thee,

Here's to old Jerry, and to her right eye;
May God send our mistress a good Christmas pie!
A good Christmas pie, as we all may see,
And a wassailing bowl we will drink unto thee.

Here's to old Boxer and to his long tail;
I hope that our maester'll hae n'er a 'oss vail!
N'er a 'oss vail, as we all may see,
And a wassailing bowl we will drink unto thee.

Come pretty maidens--I suppose there are some!
Never let us poor young men stand on the cold stone;
The stones they are cold, and our shoes they are thin,
The fairest maid in the house let us come in!
Let us come in, and see how you do.

Maid:
Yes, if you will, and welcome too!

Here's to the maid, and the rosemary tree,
The ribbons are wanted and that you can see;
The ribbons are wanted, and that you can see,
With our wassailing bowl we will drink unto thee.

Now, boteler, come, fill us a bowl o' the best,
And we hope that thy sowl in heaven may rest;
But if you do bring us a bowl o' the small,
Then down shall go boteler, bowl and all,
Bowl and all, bowl and all;
Then down shall go boteler, bowl and all.

Now, master and mistress, if you are within,
Send down some of your merry, merry men,
That we may eat and drink beforethe clock strikes ten,
Our jolly wassail;
When joy comes unto our jolly wassail.
-Source: Alfred Williams, Folk -Songs of the Upper Thames.,
Duckworth and co., London,1923.
p.116-117.
Williams Wrote:
"I have named this the "Thames Head Wassailer's Song". because I ahve
not heard it except around
the Thames source. It has been called the "Gloucestershire Wassailing
Song." though it seemsto have been quite
as popular in North Wilts as in Gloucestershire especially at Brinksworth,
Somerford, Oaksey, Aston Keynes,
and Cricklade. The bowl is variously said to have been made of
a sycamore, maplin, and maypoling tree,
and there are other minor differences in the current versions. Copy
obtained of "Wassail" Harvey, Cricklade, and E.
Smart, Oakse, Wilts." p.116.

The Waysailing Bowl

Oh, waysail oh, waysail all over the town.
Our pledge it is white our ale it is brown.
And our bowl it is made of the best mottling tree.
To my waysailing bowl I'll bring unto thee.

Now here's health to my master and to his right eye
Pray God send our master a good Xmas pie,
And a good Xmas pie that we may all see
To my waysailing bowl I'll bring unto thee

Now here's health to my master and to his right eear.
Pray God send our master a happy New Year.
And an happy New Year that we may all see
To my waysailing bowl I'll bring unto thee.

Now, here's health to my master and to his right arm.
Pray God send our master a good crop of corn,
And a good crop of corn and another of hay
To pass the cold wintery winds away.

Now, here's health to my master and to his right hip
Pray God send our master a good flock of sheep,
And a good flock of sheep that we may all see
To my waysailing bowl I'll bring unto thee.

Now, here's health to my master and to his right leg
Pray God send our master a good fatted pig
And a good fatted pig that we may all see
To my waysailing bowl I'lll bring unot thee.

Now butler come fill up a bowl of your best.
I hope in Heaven your soul will rest,
But if that you should bring us a bowl of your smal
(small ale)
The down shall go butler and all and all.

There was an old woman she had but one cow
And how to maintain it she did not know how
She builded a barn to keep her cow warm,
And- I'll have to have more sider - will do us no harm.

-Recorded by Gwilyn Davies in the Royal Arms Stonehouse, Gloucestershire,
February 1979.
As sung by Billy Buckingham and others.

Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wandering so fairly to be seen.
Now is winter-time strangers travel far and near
And we wish you and send you a happy New Year

We hope that all your barley will prosper fine and grow,
So that you'll have plenty and a bit more to bestow,
We hope your wethers they grow fat and likewise all your
ewes,
And where they had one lamb we hope they will have two.

Bud and blossom, bud and blossom, bud and bloom and bear,
So we may have plenty and cider all next year.
Hatfuls and in capfuls and bushel-bags and all,
And the cider running out of every gutter-hole.

Down here in the muddy lane there sits an old red fox,
Starving and a-shivering and licking his old chops.
Bring us out your table and spread it if you please,
And give us hungry wassailers a bit of bread and cheese.

I've a little purse and it's made of leather skin.
A little silver sixpences would line it well within,
Now is winter-time, strangers travel far and near,
And we wish you and send you a happy New Year

This is the version (with chorus) recorded by Pete Kennedy as can
Wassel or Wassail Song.#87, p. 214 in Folksongs of Britain and Ireland.,
Peter Kennedy et. al. eds.,Oak,London,1984.
This song has a tune similar to that for Wassails Collected by Cecil
Sharp: Trenerry click hereFor the midi click hereAnother midi click here

Now Christmas is comen
And New Year begin
Pray open your doors
And let us come in.

The mistress and master sitting down by the fire
While we poor wassailers are travelling in the mire,
Along with...

The mistress and master sitting down at their ease
Put their hands in their pockets and give what they please
With...

I hope that your apple trees will prosper and bear,
That we may have cider when we call next year
With...

And where you've one hogshead I hope you'll have ten,
So that we may have cider when we call again
With...

I hope that your barley will prosper and grow,
So that you may have some and enough to bestow
With...

Now we poor wassail boys growing weary and old,
Drop a small bit of silver into our bowl.
For...

I wish you a blessing and a long time to live
Since you've been so free and willing to give
With...

-This Song appears as "Wassail Song", 56, in: Canow Kernow., Ed.
Inglis Gundry.
it is listed as a Cornish Song with the following note: "On the tape-recording
which Peter Kennedy made Mr. Thomas
describes how "back in old times any gang of chaps would go out on New
year's Eve and scout the countryside, go from farm to farm". They used to
"car a bowl with 'em-anything like a basin would do. You'd fill 'n up
with cider or beer, then you'd drink around, fill'n up again". He
was "out over Helford River one night wassailing-came home four o'clock
in the morning". He breaks into song again: "Come fill up the bowl with
cider and beer." and then ermarks: "You can add on any words you mind to."
The date given is: 1956 Sung by Joe Thomas, Constantine, Helston, 22 Nov.
1956.
For notation click
here

Wassail Collected from William T Passmore (45) Camborne
9/5/13

There's the master and the missus sitting down by the fire
While we poor wassailers are out in the mire,
'Long with our wassail, wassail, wassail, wassail, wassail,
And may joy come to our jolly wassail.

Sweet master of the habitation
With my mistress be so kind
As to grant an invitation
If we may this favor find
To be now invited in
Then with mirth we will begin.
Happy sweet and pleasant songs which unto this time belongs.

Chorus
Let every loyal honest soul
Contribute to the wassail bowl.

So may you still enjoy the blessing
Of a loving virtuous wife,
Riches, honour still possessing
With a long and happy life,
Living in prosperity
Then let generosity
Always be maintained I pray.
Don’t forget the good old way.

Before the season is departed
In your presence we appear,
Therefore soon be noble hearted
To afford som dainty cheer
Freely let us have it now
Since the season doth allow.
What the house doth now afford
Should be plac’d upon the board

Chorus
Whether it be roast beef or fowl
And liquour well the wassel bowl.

For now it is a time of leisure,
Then to those that kindness show
May they have wealth, peace and pleasure
And the spring of bounty flow
To enrich them while they live
That they may afford to give,
To maintain the good old way
Many a long and happy day

Chorus
Let every loyal honest soul
Contribute to the wassail bowl.

You worthy are to be commended
I in this you will not fail.
Now our song is almost ended
Fill our bowl with nappy ale.
Then we’ll drink a full carouse
To the master of this house
Aye and to our mistress dear
Wishing both a happy year,
In peace and love without controul
Who brought Joy to our wasel bowl.

-No. 37 from the MS belonging to Miss. Minnie Davies Gilbert and Mrs.
Patience Harding, great granddaughters of the original collector. The MS
of Cornish Carols wascompiled for Davies Gilbert by John Hutchens about
1826, as cited in: Canow Kernow., ed. Inglis Gundry, The Federation of
Old Cornwall Societies, 1966. Pp.18-19.

1 Now here at this house we first shall begin
To drink the King's health which a custom has been
Now unto the Master we'll drink his good health
We hope he may prosper in virtue and wealth
With our wassail! Wassail! Wassail
Wassail and joy come to our jolly wassail

2 Now here at your door we do orderly stand
Our jolly wassail and our hats in our hand
We do wish a good health to the master and dame
To the children and servants we wish it the same

3 In the friendliest manner this house we salute
That it is an old custom we need not dispute
O ask not the reason from hence it did spring
For we very well know 'tis an ancient old thing

4 Now for this good liquor to us that you bring
We lift up our voices we merrily sing
That all good householders may continue still
To provide the brown liquor our bowl for to fill

5 We hope that your barley will prosper and grow
That you may have barley and beer to bestow
And where you have one bushel we hope you'll have ten
That you may have beer against we come again

6 We hope that your orchards may blossom and bear
That you may have cider against the next year
That where you've one hogshead we hope you'll have ten
That you may have cider when we come again

7 We wish you great plenty and long may you live
Because you are willing and free for to give
To our wassail so cheerful, our wassail so bold
Long may you live happy, be lusty and old

8 Now neighbours and strangers you ever shall find
The wassailers courteous, obliging and kind
We hope our civility you will approve
With a piece of small silver in token of love

9 A welcome kind Sir as we merrily meet
With our jolly wassail as we pass up the street
O welcome kind Sir, if it please you to stop
A piece of small silver in our bowl for to drop

10 Now jolly old Christmas is passing away
He's posting off from us, and this the last day
That we shall enjoy long 'o you to abide
So farewell, Old Christmas, a merry good tide

11 Now jolly old Christmas, thou welcomest guest
Thou from us are parting which makes us look wisht
For all the twelve days are now come to their end
And this the last day of the season we spend

12 Now for this good liquor, your cider, your beer
And for the fair kindness that we have had here
We return you our thanks and shall still bear in mind
How you have been bountiful, loving and kind

13 Now for the great kindness that we did receive
We return you our thanks, and we now take our leave
From this present evening we bid you adieu
Until the next year and same season ensue

Sent by Jno Barrett, 30, Lemon St, Truro. "At last I am able to
send you the Cornish Wassail song, which I promised you a twelvemonth agone.
Mr JJ Mountford, the organist of St John's church has got the two versions
of the music, one from the old man from whom I got the words, but I do
not know from whence he obtained the other. Michael Nancarrow from
whom air and words were taken is a native of Grampound and is now 73 years
old. He has been singing the song for fifty years, and learnt it
from Wm Griffin and Rd Darker, old men who have been dead near twenty years.
The words I send have been known in this neighbourhood as the 'Grampound
'song, being distinct from the 'Tregoney' and other versions. The
first three verses are usually sung outside the house and, before the fourth
verse is sung, some liquor is supplied. The singers carry a bowl
into which all liquor given is poured, and when they leave the home they
usually carry some away in case they should meet anyone on their way to
the next house. Should they do so the ninth verse is sung; verses
10 and 11 are only sung on Twelfth Day

Version B

1 Wassail, wassail all round the town
For the ale is white and the ale is brown
For 'tis our wassail, and 'tis your wassail
And 'tis joy come to our jolly wassail

2 The cup is made of the ashen tree
And the ale is made of the best barley

3 The great dog of Langport burnt his tail
The night that we went singing wassail

6 O maister, mistress that sit by the fire
Consider us poor travellers in the mire

7 O maister, mistress if you do so please
Put out the brown loaf and the raw milk cheese
And then you shall see how happy we be

Somersetshire form taken down at Langport by C L Eastlake, Jan 1893

Version C

1 We stand at your door and we first shall begin
To drink the Queen's health as the custom has been
And unto the master we wish a good health
And hope he may prosper in virtue and wealth
To maintain our wassail, Wassail! Wassail! Wassail
And joy come to our jolly wassail

2 Now here at your doors we submissively stand
With our jolly wassail And our hats in hand
We wish perfect health to both master and dame
And children and servants we wish you the same

3 In a friendly manner the house we salute
(as version A - verse 3)

4 And to the old town the same thing do we wish
We hope all good folk will not take it amiss
For us true companions who never will fail
To call at your homes with our friendly wassail

5 Come fill our old jolly bowl up to the brim
Which ever stands garnished so neat and so trim
Sometimes crowned with laurel and sometimes with bay
According to custom we'll keep the old way

6 Methinks I can smile when I look at the bowl
That just now was empty again becomes full
By the hands of good people, long may they remain
And live and continue the same to maintain

7 Now for this good liquor which to us you bring
(as version A - verse 4)

8 Now for your good liquor, your cider and beer
(as version A - verse 10)

9 We wish you great plenty and long time to live
(as version A - verse 7)

10 O may all your barley both prosper and grow
(as version A - verse 5)

11 And now we will wish you one great blessing more
That you trees may bring forth an abundance of store
As much as their stocks and their branches can bear
That you may have plenty of cider next year

12 O may all your apple trees prosper and bear
(as version A - verse 6)

13 But jolly old Christmas the merry old guest
(as version A - verse 11)

14 Now neighbours and strangers you always will find
(as version A - verse 8)

15 And for the great kindness that we have received
(as version A - verse 13)

From an old printed copy at Fowey, as sung there 60 years ago, and still
sung

O Mistress, at your door we kindly salute,
For it is an old custom you cannot dispute,

O mistress and Master sitting down by the fire,
While we POOR Wassail-men are travelling thro' the mire,

O Mistress and Master, sitting down at your ease,
With their hands in their pockets to give what they please

Come young men and maidens, I pray you draw near;
Come fill up our bowl with some cider or beer,

You see how we'll smile at our flowing Bowl--
Just now it is empty, by and bye it'll be full,

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
A plenty of money and a barrel of beer.

I wish you a blessing and a long time to live
Because you're so free and so willing to give

I hope that your apples will prosper and grow
That you may have cider and a plenty to bestow,

I hope that your barley may prosper and grow,
That you may have beer and a plenty to bestow.

Well known in West Cornwall 50 or 60 years before publication in this
source. "The words which are an intersting commentaty on old Christmas
and New Year customs ,wer communicated (from an old MS and from personal
recollection), in 1912 by Mr. W. Dunstan of Carnon Downs, near Truro."-
Source The Cornish Song Book., (Lyver Canow Kernewek).,"Part
2. Carols and Sacred Music, Ralph Dunstan, Lodenek Press, Padstow, 1974..p.52.

Wassail and wassail all over the town
The cup it is white and the ale it is brown
The cup it is made of the good ashen tree
And so is the malt of the best barley

For its your wassail and its our wassail
And its joy be to you and a jolly wassail

Oh master and missus, are you all within?
Pray open the door and let us come in
O master and missus a-sitting by the fire
Pray think on us poor travelers, a traveling in the mire

Oh where is the maid with the silver-headed pin
To open the door and let us come in
Oh master and missus, it is our desire
A good loaf and cheese and a toast by the fire
There was an old man and he had an old cow
And how for to keep her he didn't know how
He built up a barn for to keep his cow warm
And a drop or two of cider will do us no harm

The girt dog of Langport he burnt his long tail
And this is the night we go singing wassail
O master and missus now we must be gone
God bless all in this house until we do come again

Our wassail is made of the el'berry bough
Although my good neighbors I'll drink unto thou
Besides all on earth, we have apples to store
Pray let us come in for its cold by the door

We know by the moon that we are not too soon
And we know by the sky that we are not too high
We know by the star that we are not too far
And we know by the ground that we are within sound

Now master and mistress let your company forbear
To fill up are wassail with you cider and beer
We want none of your pale beer, nor none of your small
But a drop of your kilderkin, that's next to the wall

Now master and mistress if you are within
Pray send out your maid with her lily-white skin
For to open the door without more delay
For our time it is precious and we cannot stay

You've brought your wassail, which is very well known
But I can assure you we've as good of our own
As for your jolly wassail, we care not one pin
But its for your good company we'll let you come in

Here's a health to our Cooley and her croo'ed horn
May God send her Master a good crop of corn
Of barley and wheat and all sorts of grain
May God send her Mistress a long life to reign

Now Master and Mistress, know you will give
Unto our jolly wassail as long as you live
And if we do life to another new year
We'll call in again just to see who lives here

Our wassail is made of an elberry bough,
Although, my good neighbour, we'll drink unto thou.
Besides all of that, we've apples in store,
Pray let us come in, for it's cold by the door.

We know by the moon that we are not too soon,
We know by the stars that we are not too far,
We know by the sky that we are not too high.
We know by the ground that we are within sound.

Now master and mistress, if you are within,
Pray send out your maid with the lilywhite skin
For to open the door without more delay
For our time it is precious and we cannot stay.

We're a company designed for to taste of your ale
Out of the kinker-gate that's next to the wall.
We want none of your small beer, nor none of your pale
But out of the kinker-keg that's next to the wall

A bonne, God wote!
Stickes in my throate,
Without I have a draught
Of cornie aile,
Nappy and staile,
My lyffe lyes in great wauste.
Some ayle or beare,
Gentill butlere,
Some lycourse thou hus showe,
Such as you mashe,
Our throtes to washe,
The best were that yow brew.

Saint, master, and knight,
That saint Mault hight,
Were prest betwen two stones;
That swet humour
Of his lycoure
Would make us sing at once.
Mr. Wortley,
I dar well say,
I tell you as I thinke,
Would not, I say,
Byd hus this day,
But that we shuld have drink.

His men so tall
Walkes up his hall,
With many a comly dishe;
Of his good meat
I cannot eate,
Without a drink i-wysse;
Now gyve hus drink,
And let cat wynke,
I tell you all at once,
Yt stickes so sore,
I may sing nomore,
Tyll I have droken once.

1. A bone, God wot!
Sticks in my throat --
Without I have a draught
Of cornie ale,
Nappy and stale,
My life lies in great waste.
Some ale or beer,
Gentle butler,
Some liquor thou us show,
Such as you mash
Our throats to wash,
The best ware that you brew.

2. Saint, master, and knight,
That Saint Malt hight,
Were pressed between two stones;
That sweet humour
Of his liquor
Would make us sing at once.
Master Wortley, I dare well say,
I tell you as I think,
Would not, I say,
Bid us this day,
But that we should have drink.

3. His men so tall
Walk up his hall,
With many a comely disk;
Of his good meat
I cannot eat,
Without I drink, I wis.
Now give us drink,
And let cat wink,
I tell you all at once,
It sticks so sore,
I may sing no more,
Till I have drunken once.

This curious specimen of an ancient drinking song is contained in a
manuscript written early in the sixteenth century, and preserved in the
Cottonian collection in the British Museum. It bears the title of "A
Christenmesse Carroll."

Winter was a time for retreating indoors and drawing in the
horns. It was a time, as Henry recalls, of gathering round the
fire, or even round the piano, which made a bigger, more cheery
blaze, for a singling session. Many of the old carols of the
region are sadly lost, only fragments remaining of such songs as
"Oh Little Town of Grimmimgham' and Good King Wenceslas - Look
Out!," but fortunately we have in its entirety the poignant
'Trunch Wassail Song.'
The custom was for the wassailers to visit each house in the
parish, where they would sing this old carol, and demand in
return a sum of money, which was suppose to ensure good luck, it
was certainly unlucky not to pay, for then the carolers would
simply sing again.
The song is surely very ancient. Sid claims that it goes
back to Roman times, thought this is doubtful since Roman times
would have expressed in Roman numerals. The custom was more
recently associated with the Hunting of the Renoir, this being a
painting which mysteriously disappeared from the Great Hall one
New Year during a particularly riotous game of pin-the-tail-on-
the-dicky. George Kipper knowingly asserts that the search is a
waste of time.

All on a summer's morning from Southrups come we
To beg a cup of sugar to sweeten our tea.
If you ain't got a cup, then a half a cup will do.
And if you ain't got that, well, bugger you.

The master of this house in his rusty gold chain
Will stamp his foot and curse and bitterly complain.
He'll say he's most offended at his house we've been
so bold,
And if he had his way, we'd be left out in the cold.

The missus of this house with her stockings all tore
Will soon fall asleep and loudly will snore.

The children of this house under table do run
Until they all get dizzy and fall down on the floor.
There's mud all on their rich attire and jam all on their
face,
And every hair upon their head is all out of place.

The daughter of this house is a proper little whore,
She's had all the blokes round here, and twenty more.
See how the swains adore her pretty curly hair,
Until she takes it off at night, which makes them all
stare.

This house and this arbor are in disrepair.
I'd live all in my cowshed as soon as I'd live there.
Your men and your maidens are rolling in the hay,
Your cattle and your sheep have all passed away.

Bad luck to this house, here the season's begun.
Where you had ten apples, may you have one.
Now we'll come no more nigh you until the next year,
And the last thing we'll do is to wish you good cheer.

Version 2of 2

All on this pleasant morning from Southrepps come we
To ask a bag of sugar
to sweeten our tea.
If you can't spare a bag,
then cupfull will do.
And if you can't spare
that, well, bugger you.

The master of this house
in his rusty old chain
Will stamp and swear and
curse and he'll bitterly complain.
He'll say he's most offended
with his house we're bein' so bold,
And if he had his way,
we'd be left out in the cold.

The mistress of this house
with her stockings all torn
Will rant and rave and
curse the very hour we were born.
And then she'll fall asleep
and loudly she will snore.
And when her body is at
peace we hope her soul's at war

The daughter of this house
is a proper little whore,
She's had all the blokes
round here, and plenty more.
And all her little children
round the table do go
Until they all get dizzy
and fall down on the floor.

This house and this arbour
are in disrepair.
I'd live all in my pigsty
as soon as I'd live there.
Your men and your maidens
are rolling in the dew,
Unless they all take care,
they'll go down with the flu.

Bad luck to this household,
the season begun.
Where you had ten apples,
may you have one.
Now we'll come no more
nigh you until the next year,
And the last thing we'll
do is to wish you good cheer.
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HUMBOLDT WASSAIL SONG

Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green
Although the crop is hard to find and rarely can be seen
Now is harvest time, strangers travel far and near
And we wish you and send you a spaced-out New Year.

We hope you've kept your garden free of gophers and of
weeds
We hope you've kept it free of slugs and also free of
seeds
We hope your plants grow tall and straight as any redwood
tree
And where you have one plant, we hope you will have three.

Bud and blossom, bud and blossom, bud and bloom and bear
So you shall have plenty and a little more to spare
In hatfuls and in capfuls and in bushel bags and all
And the harvest drying on every cabin wall.

We hope that when you test your crop you do not get a
cough
We hope you don't get busted and you don't get rip-ped
off
We hope the dreaded whirlybirds do not intend to stay
And we wish them, and send them, a long way away.

I have a little pipe and it's made of maple wood
A little tiny bit of bud would fill it very good
Now is harvest time, strangers travel far and near
And we wish you and send you a spaced-out New Year.

Old apple tree, we wassail thee,
And hoping thou wilt bear
For the Lord doth know where we shall be
Till apples come another year.
For to bear well, and to bear well
So merry let us be.
Let every man take off his hat,
And shout to the old apple tree!
Old apple tree, we wassail thee,
And hoping thou wilt bear
Hatfuls, capfuls, three bushel bagfuls
And a little heap under the stairs
Hip! Hip! Horray!

A jolly Wassel-Bowl
A Wassel of good ale,
Well fare the butler’s sole
That setteth this to sale -
Our jolly Wassel
Good Dame, here at your door
Our Wassel we begin
We are all maidens pure
We pray now let us in - With
our good Wassel
Our Wassel we do fill
With apples and with spice
They kindly will agree
To take a good carouse - Of
our Wassel
But here they let us stand
All freezing in the cold
Good Master give command
To enter and be bold - With
our Wassel

-Source: recorded by : Mr Rann of Dudley in 1819 , in
The Every-Day Book, "TheCarroll for a Wassell Bowl",Staffordshire and
Warwickshire

To be sung upon
Twelfth-Day at Night, to the tune of " Gallants, come away."

A jolly wassel-bowl,
A wassel of good ale,
Well fare the butler's soul,
That setteth this to sale ;
Our jolly wassel.

Good dame, here at your
door
Our wassel we begin,
We are all maidens poor,
We pray now let us in,
With our wassel.

Our wassel we do fill
With apples and with spice,
Then grant us your good will
To taste here once or twice
Of our good wassel.
If any maidens be

Here
dwelling in this house.
They kindly will agree
To take a full carouse
Of our wassel.

But here they let us stand
All freezing in the cold :
Good master, give command
To enter and be bold,
With our wassel.

Much joy into this hall
With us is entered in ;
Our master, first of all,
We hope will now begin
Of our wassel.

And after his good wife
Our spiced bowl will try ;
The Lord prolong your life,
Good fortune we espy
For our wassel.

Some bounty from your
hands,
Our wassel to maintain:
We '1 buy no house nor lands
With that which we do gain
With our wassel.

This is our merry night
Of choosing king and queen,
Then be it your delight
That something may be seen
In our wassel.

It is a noble part
To bear a liberal mind ;
God bless our master's heart,
For here we comfort find,
With our wassel.

And now we must be gone
To seek out more good cheer,
Where bounty will be shown,
As we have found it here,
With our wassel.

Much joy betide them all,
Our prayers shall be still,
We hope and ever shall,
For this your great good will
To our wassel.

- William Sandys, Christmas Carols,
Ancient and Modern: Including the Most Popular in the West of England, and
the Airs to which They are Sung. Also Specimens of French Provincial
Carols. With an Introduction and Notes,R. Beckley, 1833, p.54-55.

Also in Ritson with this note:

From a collection
entitled, " New Cbriftmas Carrols: " Being fit also to be sung at Easter,
Whitsuntide, and other Festival days in the year." no date, 12mo. .
black letter ; in the curious study of that ever to be respected
antiquary Mr. Anthony a Wood, in the Ashmoleian Museum.

If you got an apple I hope you get ten
To make some sweet cider 'gainst (for when) we
comes again

Chorus

If missus and master is sitting at ease
Put your hand in your pocket and give what you please.

Chorus

Come knock at the knocker and ring at the bell
I know you'll reward us for singing wassail

Chorus

-Recorded by Dave Bland outside a house in Bodmin, Cornwall, 6 January
1973.

Another version:

WASSAIL.

Several years ago, we had
on Twelfth Night, the visit of poor old Tommy Climo, nicknamed Pretty
Tommy, lucus a nonlucendo. Tommy was dressed in a blankctting
coat, such as the Cornish tinners wear. Hanging from his neck, by a
collar of listing, was his tin wassail bowl, holding some not very
alluring-looking drink; made, I was told, of boiled ale, roast apples,
sugar, and spice. My "goodwill " never allowed me to "taste here, once or
twice of ourgood wassail," asthe song invited me. The song was. superior
to the one following. I only rememberone accurately the first verse,
though I have lingering echoes of the others " A Iolly Wassail-bowl,

A Wassail
of good ale ;

Well fare
the butler's soul,

That
setteth this to sale.

Our Jolly Wassail!"

It is probably the song
printed in Ellis's Brand (Bohn), vol. i., p. 5.

At night-time through all
Christmas-tide, we have the visits of boys, and even men, who bring an
empty wassail bowl, and sing this ruder song :— WAS-HARL.

Wisselton wasselton, who lives here?
We've come to taste your Christmas beer.
Up the kitchen and down the hall,
Holly ivy, and mistletoe
A peck of apples will serve us all,
Give us some apples and let us go.

Up with your stocking, on with your shoe,
If you haven't any apples, money will do.
My carol's done, and I must be gone,
No longer can I stay here.
God bless you all, great and small,
And send you a happy new year.

Here We Come a'
Caroling Beware This is an abuse of a wassail
song! :) Imagine that! removing the word Wassail from
its own song! It would be of interest to find out how the words got switched! Could
it be a prohibitionist tactic? Here it is anyway, because we want to be complete and inclusive here. However, it is not
appropriate to censor alcohol from the tradition.... shame....shame.... If you run into this song please!
Contact those responsible and help them to mend their ways!

Here we come a-caroling
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wand'ring,
So fair to be seen.

Chorus:
Love and joy come to you,
And to your carol too
And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.

We are not daily beggars
Who beg from door to door,
But we are neighbors' children,
Whom you have seen before.
repeat chorus

God bless the Master of this house,
Likewise the Mistress too
And all the little children,
That round the table go.
repeat chorus

And all your kin and kinfolk
That dwell both far and near
We wish a Merry Christmas
And Happy New Year.
repeat chorus

The moon shone bright and the stars gave a light,
A little before 'twas day;
Our Lord he looked down on us,
And he bade us awake and pray.

Awake, awake, good people all,
Awake and you shall hear
How our dear Lord died on the cross
For us he loved so dear.

The fields were green as green could be,
When from his heavenly seat
Our mighty Lord he watered us
With his heavenly dew so sweet.

The life of man is but a span,
And cut down in an hour:
We're here today, tomorrow gone,
The creatures of an hour.

Instruct and teach your children well,
The while that you are here;
It may be better for your soul
When your corpse lies on the bier.

Today you be alive and well,
With many a thousand pound;
Tomorrow dead and cold as clay
When your corpse lies on the ground.

With one stone at your head, good man,
And another at your feet,
Your good deeds and your bad, good man,
Will both together meet.

So give your heed to what we sing,
While you're alive and sound,
It may be better for your soul,
When your corpse lies on the ground.

God bless the master of this house;
God bless the mistress here,
And all the little children
Around the table dear.

God bless you all, both great and small,
And send you a happy new year. (sung to the melody of
the last 2 lines)

Recorded by the Valley Folk on "All Bells in Paradise."

A.L. Lloyd believes that this was originally a secular May
carol, which gradually collected this mass of verses at the
hands of Puritan broadside writers. That Puritans had their
hands in this version seems certain, but the last verse
appears to be that of a wassailing song. The Oxford Book of
Carols believes that the influence passed the other way -- that
lyrics from this text passed into the May carols. The first
printed version appears to have been in Sandys's "Christmas
Carols Ancient and Modern" in 1833; this was a ten-stanza
form generally similar to that used here.

The "Oxford Book" contains no less than three settings
of the song (pieces 46-48); the recording I used has still
a fourth melody.

The "Oxford Book" prints two additional stanzas:

3 O fair, O fair Jerusalem,
When shall I come to thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end,
Thy joy that I may see?

5 And for the saving of our souls
Christ died upon the cross.
We ne'er shall do for Jesus Christ
As he hath done for us.

If you truly wish to turn this into a Christmas piece, you can
sing stanzas 1, 2, 3, and 9, plus perhaps Stanza 5 from the "Oxford
Book," inserting this as the fourth (or second or third) verse:

And in the town of Bethlehem
A child was born that day;
His bed was in an ox's stall;
He in the manger lay.

A "bellman" is the English equivalent of a town crier; his
task was to move about the town, ringing a bell and making
public announcements.RW

See, here be we coming
Six mummers a-mumming
To sing, if becoming,
Our carol

Good luck to your labours
Your pipes and your tabors;
But frist tell me, neighbours,
Who be you?

In song you must quell us,
Good fellow, or tell us
How you can compel us
To leave you!

Then Stay; but I fear, Sirs
You'll never find help here, Sirs,
Or money or beer, Sirs,
To cheer you

-English Metrical version/Sir H.I. Bell, From "Old Welsh
Folk-Songs"

-Source=Caneuon Traddodiadol Y Cymry (Traditional Songs of the Welsh).,
W.S. Gwynn Williams, Gwynn, LLangollen,N.Wales,1961.
"Carol or penillion sung at Christmas-tide in Gwent and Morganwg, in
the old pastime called "Mari Lwyd". LLangollen (Eisteddfod) MS (1858).
It was understood that the carol singers could demand food and liquor at
any house where one of the inmates could not answer each of their stanzas
with another. "This type of song was common all over Wales. There
is a large collection of the Anglesey ones in the British Museum.
"Mari Lwyd" was merely a S. Wales variant of a custom common throughout
the country."-J.H. Davies (J.W.E.S.S., Vol.1,Part 1(1909 No.9)
Also may be known as: Y Wassael (As soung by Iona on Nutmeg
and Ginger)

Peter Kennedy records a longer and more involved song to a similar tune
which he calls: "Y Feri L Wyd" The Grey Mari #69. In this version
one can
really see a clear diference between Wassail and Mari Lwyd. Again the
term Wassail is never mentioned and the only similarity is that folk go
door to door and food and
drink are involved.-Source: Kennedy (1984)pp.158-9,172.

Here we come a-wassailing long with our Lucy Green
And here we come a-wandering as fair to be seen
Love and joy come to you and to your wassail too
And God send you a happy New Year
-Journal of the Folk-Song Society, London,1929, no. 33, p.
132.Cited in: Peter Kennedy, Folksongs of Britain and Ireland,
Oak, 1975 p.232.
(In Camborne, Cornwal the caroling group went around with a young child
dressed up on evergreen branches. This
child was known as " Lucy Green")
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Harleian Wassail

Bryng vs home good ale, s', bryng vs home good ale;
And for our der lady love, brynge vs home good ale.

Brynge home no beff,s', for that ys full of boyns,
But brynge home good ale Inowgh, for I love wyle yt.
But, &c.
Brynge vs home no wetyn brede, for that ys full of braund,
Nothyr no ry breede, for yt ys of ye same.
But&c
Brynge vs home no porke, s' for yt ys very fat,
Nethgyr no barly brede, for nethyr lovs I y
But bring vs home good ale.
Bryng vs home no mutton, s, for yt hys togh and lene,
Nethyr no trypys, for they be seldyn clene.
But bryng &c.
Bryng vs home no vele, s for yt will not dur
But bryng vs home good ale Inogh to drynke by the fyr.
But&c
Bring vs home no sydyr, nor no palde wyne,
Bor and yt do thow shalt have crysts curse and myne.
But,&c.
-Harl. MS 541 (temp. Hen. Vi.), Ritson's Ancient Songs, pp. xxxiv-v.n,
as
cited in: William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, London,1833.

Another Reference:

Here are two versions of one of the oldest wassail songs extant. For the
antique edition I am indebted to Notes and Queries for December
1860. The modernised and fuller version appears in Mr. Chappell's
Collection. It is stated that the ballad was taken from a broadside,
published, without date or printer's name, about the middle of the
seventeenth century.

No. I.

" Brynge us home good
ale, syr, brynge us home good ale,
And for our der lady, lady love, brynge us som good ale.
Brynge us home no beff, syr, for that is full of bonys,
But brynge home goode ale y nough, for that my love alone ys:
Brynge us home no wetyn brede, for y' be ful of branne;
Nothyr of no ry brede, for y1 is of y'
same;
Brynge us home no porke, syr, for y' is verie fatt;
Nothyr no barly brede, for neyther love 1 that;

Brynge us home no muton,
for that is tough and lene;

Neyther no trypys, for
thei be seldyn clene;

Brynge us home no veell,
syr, that do I not desyr;

But brynge us home good
ale y nough to drynke by y" fyer;

Brynge us home no syder,
nor no palde wyne,

For and yu
do thow shalt have Criste's curse and mine."

No. II.

" Bring us in no brown
bread, for that is made of bran,
Nor bring us in no white bread, for therein is no grain;
But bring us in good ale, and bring us in good ale,
For our blessed lady's sake, bring us in good ale.

" Bring us in no beef,
for there is many bones,
But bring us in good ale, for that go'th down at once;

But bring us in, &c.

" Bring us in no bacon,
for that is passing fat,
But bring us in good ale, and give us enough of that.

But bring us in, &c.

" Bring us in no mutton,
for that is passing lean,
Nor bring us in no tripes, for they are seldom clean.

But bring us in, &c.

" Bring us in no eggs,
for there are many shells,
But bring us in good ale, and give us nothing else.

But bring us
in, &c.

" Bring us in no butter,
for there are many hairs, Nor bring us in no pig's flesh, for that will
make us bears.

But bring us
in, &c.

" Bring us in no
puddings, for therein is all God's good, Nor bring us in no venison,
that is not for our blood.

But bring us
in, &c.

" Bring us in no capon's
flesh, for that is often dear, Nor bring us in no duck's flesh, for they
slobber in the mere

(mire),

But bring us in good ale,
and bring us in good ale,
For our blessed lady's sake, bring us in good ale."

A jolly wassel-bowl,
A wassel of good ale,
Well fare the butler's soul,
That setteth this to sale;
Our Jolly wassel

Good dame, here at your door
Our wasel we begin,
We are all maidens poor,
We pray now let us in,
With our wassel.

Our wassel we do fill
With apples and with spice,
Then grant us your good will
To taste here once or twice
Of our good wassel

If any maidens be
Here dwelling in this house,
They kindly will agree
To take a full carouse
Of our wassel.

But here they let us stand
All freezing in the cold:
Good mastere give command
To enter and be bold,
With our wassel.

Much joy into this hall
With us is entered in;
Our master, first of all,
We hope will now begin
Of our wassel.

And after his good wife
Our spiced bowl will try;
The Lord prolong your life,
Good fortune we spy
For our wassel.

Some bounty from your hands,
Our wassel to maintain:
We'l buy no house nor lands
With that which we do gain
With our wassel.

This is our merry night
Of choosing king and queen,
Then be it your delight
That something may be seen
In our wassel.

It is a noble part
To bear a liberal mind:
God bless our master's heart,
For here we comfort find,
With our wassel.

And now we must be gone
To seek out more good cheer,
Where bounty will be shown,
As we have found it here,
With our wassel.

Much joy betide them all,
Our prayers shall be still,
We hope and ever shall,
For this your great good will
To our wassel

.- "To Be sung upon Twelfth-Day at Night, to the tune of "Gallants,
come away" For Tune and notation click
hereSources: Ritson,Ancient Songs. pp.304-6, From: New Christmas
Carrols:Being fit also to be sung at Easter Whitsontide, and other festival
days in the year.", "in the curious study of that ever-to-be-respected
antiquary Mr. Anthony a Wood, In the Ashmolean Museum, Cited in:William
Sandys,Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, London, 1833..pp.50-52.

The Heywood
Sumner Wassail SongFor midi sound click hereFor Notation click
herePray master and mistress if you are within
Leave open the door and let us come in.
For we are come with our Christmas carol.
We are come if you please to help empty your barrel.

Chorus:
Wassail, Wassail all round the town, our cup is white
and our ale is brown.
Our bowl is made of a good ashen tree and here my kind
fellow we drink to thee.

We are in the old time: the new time comes fast
The new time comes fast the old time is past.
So I wish you all a happy New Year
Your pockets full of money, your barrels full of beer.

We’ll drink master’s health and our mistress beside,
And all the pretty family around the fireside
And all that he has got, I know he does not mind
We’ll drink master’s health in water or in wine.

We’ll drink master’s health with the star all on his breast
And when that he is dead we hope his soul will
rest
So I wish you all a happy New Year
So I wish you all a happy New Year.

I wish you a merry
Christmas, And a Happy New YearWith a pocket full
of apples and a Belly full of beer

Chorus: Moorzeal, Moorzeal
Moorzeal Moorzeal

The Mistress and master
sitting down by the fireWhile we poor jolly
sailor-boys are walking in the mireChorus:

In comes I little man
JackWith my wife upon
my backChorus:

In comes I old Beelzebub,On my shoulder I carry
a clubChorus:

The mistress and master
they won't give a figBut set down by the
fire and grunt like a pig

A-wersey, A-werseyJoy come home with
Johnny Wersey

-First verse is from Folk Songs
From Somerset, Fourth Series as an opening to a New Year Card.,The verse with little man jack comes
from a Penponds singer and was part of a St. George play.The last verse is from Cornwall.
Source: Sung by Mrs. Woolcock, Park Road, Camborne,June 30, 1926., Noted by J. Miners
and J.E. Thomas,Journal of the Folk Song Society
8
1927-31 #33 Dec. 1929.pp.123-124.To return to the top click here

Some love to stroll where the wassail bowl and the wine
cups circle free
None of all that band ‘ere shall win my hand
No a sober spouse for me
Where the wine cups circle free
None of all that band ere shall win my hand
No a sober spouse for me.

Like cheerful streams when the morning beams.
With him my life would flow.
Not down the crags the drunkard drags
His wife to shame and wo.
Not down the crags the drunkard drags
His wife to shame and wo.

No! No! No! No!
No! No! No! No!
No! No! No!No!
No! No! No!

Some love to stroll
Where the wassail bowl
And the wine cups circle free;
None of all that band ere shall win my hand

The drunkard mark, at midnight dark
Oh! What a sight, good luck!
From fumes of beer and wine appear
Grim fiends who cross his track;
His children’s name he dooms to shame
His wife to want and wo;
She is betrayed for wine is made
Her rival and her foe

Still some will stroll where the wassail bowl
And the wine cups circle free
None of that band ere shall win my hand
No a sober spouse for me-

Here we coom a-wessellin(2)Among the leaves so green,An' here we coom a-wanderin'So fair as to be seen.Chorus-An' to your' wesselAn' to jolly wessel,Love an' joy be to youAn' to your wessel-tree.The wessel-bob(3) is madeO' rosemary tree,An' so is your beerO' the best barley.An' to your wessel, etc.Weare not beggars' childerenThat begs from door to door,But we are neighbours' childerenThat has been here before.An' to your wessel, etc.We have got a little purseMade i' ratchin(4) leather skin,An' we want a little moneyTo line it well within.An' to your wessel, etc.Bring us out your tableAn' spread it wi' a cloth;Bring us out your mouldy cheeseLikewise your Christmas loaf.An' to your wessel, etc.God bless the master o' this house,Likewise the mistress too;An' all the little childerenThat round the table go.An' to your wessel, etc.Good master an' good' misteress,While you're sittin' by the firePray, think of us poor childerenThat's wanderin' i' the mire.An' to your wessel, etc.

2. Wassailing. 3. Wassail-bough. 4. Urchin, hedgehog. (1673-1915) and
Traditional Poems Compiled with an Historical Introductionby F. W.
Moorman(Professor of English Language, University of Leeds) London
Published for the Yorkshire Dialect Society by Sidgwick and Jackson, Ltd.,
1916, 1917

1. Come bravely on, my masters,
For here we shall be tasters
Of curious dishes that are brave and fine;
Where they that do such cheer afford,
I'll lay my knife upon the board,
My master and my dame they do not pine.

2. Who is't will not be merry
And sing down, down-a-derry?
For now it is a time of joy and mirth;
Tis said 'tis merry in the hall
Whenas beards they do wag all;
God's plenty's here, it doth not show a dearth.

3. Let him take all lives longest,
Come fill us of the strongest,
And I will drink a health to honest John;
Come pray thee, butler, fill the bowl,
And let it round the table troll,
When that is up I'll tell you more anon.

My master and dame, I well perceive,
Are purposed to be merry to-night,
And willingly hath given me leave
To combat with a Christmas knight.
Sir Pig, I see, comes prancing in
And bids me draw if that I dare;
I care not for his valour a pin,
For Jack of him will have a share.

My Lady Goose among the rest
Upon the table takes her place,
And piping-hot bids do my best,
And bravely looks me in the face;
For pigs and geese are gallant cheer,
God bless my master and dame therefore!
trust before the next New Year
To eat my part of half a score.

I likewise see good minced-pie
Here standing swaggering on the table;
The lofty walls so large and high
I'll level down if I be able;
For they be furnished with good plums,
And spiced well with pepper and salt,
Every prune as big as both my thumbs
To drive down bravely the juice of malt.

Fill me some of your Christmas beer,
Your pepper sets my mouth on heat,
And Jack's a-dry with your good cheer,
Give me some good ale to my meat.
And then again my stomach I'll show,
For good roast-beef here stoutly stands;
I'll make it stoop before I go,
Or I'll be no man of my hands.

And for the plenty of this house
God keep it thus well-stored alway;
Come, butler, fill me a good carouse,
And so we'll end our Christmas day.

Omnes gentes plaudite,
I saw many birds sitting on a tree;
They took their flight and flew away,
With, Ego dixi, have good day!
Many white feathers hath the pie --
I may no more sing, my lips are so dry.
Many white feathers hath the swan --
The more that I drink, the less I can.
Lay sticks on the fire, well may it burn;
Give us once to drink ere away we turn.

A wassail, a wassail,
a wassail we begin
With sugar strands and cinnamon and all the treasures in
With a wassail, a wassail, a jolly wassail
And may joy come to you and to our wassail.

And if you any maids
within your house as I suppose you've done
They'd not let us stand a-wassailing so long on this cold stone
With a wassail, a wassail, a jolly wassail
And may joy come to you and to our wassail.

We'll cut a toast from
off the log and sat it by the fire
We'll wassail bees and apple trees until your heart's desire
With a wassail, a wassail, a jolly wassail
And may joy come to you and to our wassail.

Bring out your silver
tankard, likewise you kissing steer
We'll come no more a-wassailing until another year
With a wassail, a wassail, a jolly wassail
And may joy come to you and to our wassail.

Wassail, wassail,
Good master and mistress, sitting down by the fire,
While we poor wassailers be dabbling in the mire,
With a jolly wassail.
Oh, little Robin Redbreast he has a fine wing,
Give us of your cider and we'll begin to sing,
With a jolly wassail.

Wassail, wassail,
Good master and mistress, our wassail begin,
Please open your door and let us come in,
With a jolly wassail.
Oh, little Robin Redbreast he has a fine song,
Give us of your cider, we won't keep you long,
With a jolly wassail.

Wassail, wassail,
Your ale cup is white and your ale it is brown,
Your beer is the best that e'er can be found,
With a jolly wassail.
Oh, little Robin Redbreast he has a fine leg,
Give us of your cider, and we'll begin to beg,
With a jolly wassail.

Wassail, wassail,
Your gin it is brew'd from the juniper tree,
Your gin is the best that ever can be,
With a jolly wassail.
Oh, little Robin Redbreast he has a fine toe,
Give us of your cider, and we'll begin to go,
With a jolly wassail.

EDWARD F.
RIMBULTA wassail, a wassail, a wassail, we
beginWith sugar-plum and cinnamon, and other
spices in ;With a wassail, a wassail, a jolly
wassail,And may joy come to you, and to our
wassail ! Good master and good mistress, as yon
sit by the fire, Consider us poor wassailers who travel
through the mire,With a wassail, &c.Good master and good mistress, if you
will be but willing,Come send us out your eldest son with a
sixpence or a shilling, With, a wassail, &c. Good master and good mistress, if thus
it should you please,Come send us out some white loaf,
likewise your Christmas cheeseWith a wassail, &c.Good master and good mistress, if you
will so incline, Come send us out some roost beef,
likewise your Christmas chine, With a wassail, &c If you've any maids within your house,
as I suppose you've none, They wouldn't let us stand a-
wassailing so long on this cold stone, With a wassail, &c.For we've wassail'd all this day long,
and nothing we could find, Except an owl and an ivy bush, and ber
we left behind, With a wassail, itc. "We'll cut a toast all round the loaf,
and set it by the fire, We'll wassail bees and apple trees,
unto your heart's desire, With a wassail, &c.Our purses they are empty, our purses
they are thin,They lack a little silver to line them
well within, With a wassail, &c. Hand out your silken kerchief upon your
golden spear, We'll come no more a- wassailing until
another year, With a wassail, &c/ EDWARD F. RIMBIÜLT.

A SUSSEX WASSAILING SONG.
I took it down some few years since at Hurstpier- point in Sussex, from
the ringing of an old farmer •
who had learnt it in his youth. I have since heard fragments of it in
different parts of Sussex, but the present version is the most complete I
have yet obtained. I may add, that a copy of it is given in Old English
Songs as now sung by the Peasantry of the Weald of Surrey and Sussex.
This interesting work was privately printed in 1813 by the Rev. Mr.
Broadwood, and is now very rare. The tune is a jovial one in the major key,
evidently of some antiquity. In Mr. Broad wood's collection the words are
given to the old minor carol tune, " God rest ye, merry gentlemen " :Notes
and Queries Jan, June
1872 p5

A wassail, a wassail, a was-hail bowl we'll sing,
With cinnamon and peppermint, and other spices in; A
wassail, a wassail, with jolly sugar'd ale,
And joy come to you from our wassail.
Good Master, and good Mistress, as you sit by the fire,
Oh, think of us poor wassailers who tramp it through the mire.
A wassail, a wassail, &c. "

Hang out your silken handkerchief upon your golden spear,
And welcome to your wassailers to taste your Christmas cheer.
A wassail, a waissail, of jolly nappy ale,
And joy come to you from our wassail.
A wassail, a wassail, a was-hail bowl we sing.
With cinnamon and peppermint and other spices in."

In
wassailing apple trees, the tree is struck with a stick,
and all the party shout:— "

WASSAILING Carol
We wish you merry Christmas, also a glad New
Year;
We come to bring you tidings to all mankind so
dear:
We come to tell that Jesus was born in Beth-
1'em town,
And now He's gone to glory and pityingly looks
down
On us poor wassailers,
As wassailing we go;
With footsteps sore
From door to door
We trudge through sleet and snow.

A manger was His cradle, the straw it was His
bed,
The oxen were around Him within that lowly
shed;
No servants waited on Him with lords and
ladies gay;
But now He's gone to glory and unto Him to
pray.

On us poor wassailers,
etc.

His mother loved and tended Him and nursed
Him at her breast,
And good old Joseph watched them both the
while they took their rest;
And wicked Herod vainly sought to rob them
of their child,
By slaughtering the Innocents in Bethlehem
undefiled.
But us poor wassailers, etc.

Now, all good
Christian people, with great concern
we sing
These tidings of your Jesus, the Saviour, Lord
and King;
In poverty He passed His days that riches we
might share,
And of your wealth He bids you give and of
your portion spare
To us poor wassailers, etc.

Your wife shall be a fruitful vine, a hus'sif
good and able;
Your children like the olive branches round
about your table;
Your barns shall burst with plenty and your
crops shall be secure,
If you will give your charity to us who are so
poor, •
Us poor wassailers, etc.

And now no more we'll sing to you because the
hour is late,
And we must trudge and sing our song at many
another gate;
And so we'll wish you once again a merry
Christmas time,
And pray God bless you while you give good
silver for our rhyme.
Us poor wassailers, etc.

WASSAIL ! wassail! all over the town,
Our bread is white, and our ale it is brown
Our bowl it is made of the maplin tree,
So here, my good fellow, I'll drink to thee.

The wassailing bowl,
with a toast within,
Come fill it up unto the brim ;
Come fill it up, so that we may all see ;
With the wassailing bowl I'll drink to thee

.
Come, butler, come bring us a bowl of your best,
And we hope your soul in Heaven will rest;
But if you do bring us a bowl of your small,
Then down shall go butler, the bowl and all.

Oh, butler! oh, butler ! now don't you be worst,
But pull out your knife and cut us a toast;
And cut us a toast, one that we may all see ;—
With the wassailing bowl I'll drink to thee.

Here's to Dobbin, and to his right eye,
God send our mistress a good Christmas pie ;
A good Christmas pie, as e'er we did see;—
With the wassailing bowl I'll drink to thee.

Here's to Broad May
and to his broad horn,
God send our master a good crop of corn;
A good crop of corn, as we may all see,—
With the wassailing bowl I'll drink to thee.

Here's to Colly, and to her long tail,
We hope our master and mistress's heart will ne'er fail,
But bring us a bowl of your good strong beer,
And then we shall taste of your happy new year.

Be there here any
pretty maids ? we hope there be
some,
Don't let the jolly wassailers stand on the cold stone,
But open the door, and pull out the pin,
That we jolly wassailers may all sail in.

-Early English Poetry, Ballads, and Popular
Literature of the Middle Ages., Percy Society, 1848.v.23, pp.101-103.
From Chappell's Collection of ancient English Melodies, p. 161, Another
version is given in Hone's Table bok, ii. 24.

After he has given the cup, he says:— "
The dayes of your lyfe never felt ye suche a cuppe,
So good and so holsome, if you would drynke it upp:
It passeth Malmesaye, Capryck, Tyre, or Ypocras ;
By my faythe I thynke a better drynke never was." (
Camden Society's edn., pp. 80-1.)
WASSAYLE, wassayle, out of the milke payle,
Wassayle, wassayle as whyte as my nayle,
Wassayle, wassayle in snowe, froste, and hayle,
Wassayle, wassayle with partriche and rayle,
Wassayle, wassayle that muche doth avayle,
Wassayle, wassayle that never wyll fayle.

XIII.
WASSAIL SONG.
The following is one of the oldest Wassail Songs, and is sung by
Dissimulation, personating Simon of Swynsett, in Kynge
Johau, by Bale, about 1550, when offering the poisoned cup.

C2-Early English Poetry, Ballads, and Popular Literature of the Middle
Ages., Percy Society, 1848.v.23, p. 19.

"Wassail, wassail, all round the town, The zidur-cup is white, and the
zidur is brown, Our zidur is made from good apple
trees, And now, my fine fellows, we'll drink,
if you please. We'll drink your health with all our
heart, We'll drink to'e all before we
part, Here's one, and here's two, And here's
three before we goo. We're three jolly boys all in a
row, All in a row, boys, all in a row,
And we're three jolly boys all in a
row. CHORUS—, "This is our wassail,
our jolly wassail, And joy go with our jolly wassail. Hatfuls, capfuls, dree basket,
basketfuls, And a little heap in under the
stairs. "Down in a green copse there sits
an old fox, And there he sits a-mopping his chops.
Shall we go catch him, boys—say, shall
we go? A thousand to one whor we catch
him or no. "There was an old man, and he had
an old cow, And for to keep her he couldn't tell
how, So he
built up a barn to kip his cow warm ;
And a liddle more liquor'll do us no harm. "
And now we'll go home and tell our wife
To put in the pot the girt marrow bones,
That we may have porridge when we do cum Joan,
home. "
There was an old man, and he lived in the
West,
The juice of the barrel was what he loved
best.
He loved his auld wife as dear as his life,
But when they got drunk, why, thay soon
cum to strife."
The chorus is repeated after each verse,
and the "Hatfuls, capfuls," given with
great gusto.

I have before me several local versions
of the rhymes sung to the apple-trees, but
the Halse Wassail Song is the most complete,
and owes its preservation, I believe, to Dr. Prior, of Halse, who died
last year. It is partly in Somersetshire dialect:

Wassail, wassail, all round the town,
The zidur-cup is white, and the zidur is brown.
Our zidur is made from good apple trees,
And now, my fine fellows, we'll drink, if you please.
We'll drink your health with all our heart,
We'll drink to "e all before we part.
Here's one, and here's two,
And here's three before we goo.
We're three jolly boys all in a row,
All in a row, boys, all in a row,
And we're three jolly boys all in a row.
This is our wassail, our jolly wassail,
And joy go with our jolly wassail.
Hatfuls, capfuls, dree basket, basketfuls,
And a little heap in under the stairs.

Down in a green copse there sits an
old fox,

And there he sits a-mopping his
chops.

Shall we go catch him, boys—say,
shall we go ?

A thousand to one whor we catch him
or no.

There was an old man, and he had an
old cow,

And for to keep her he couldn't tell
how,

So he bild up a barn to kip his cow
warm ;

And a liddle more liquor '11 do us no
harm.

And now we'll go whooam, and tell our
wife Joan

To put in the pot the girt
marrow-bone,

That we may have porridge when we do
cum

whooam.

There was an old man, and he lived in
the West,
The juice of the barrel war what he loved best.
He loved his ould wife so dear as his life,
But when thay got drunk, why thay soon cum to

Nor liquor of
Anjou:
He puts th' insidious goblet round,
Till all the guests in sleep are drown'd,
Then wakes 'em with the tabor's sound,

And plays the
prank anew.

Lordings, it is
our host's command,
And Christmas joins him hand in hand,

To drain the
brimming bowl:
And I '11 be foremost to obey;
Then pledge me sirs, and drink away,
For Christmas revels here to day,

And sways
without control.

Now Wassel to
you all! and merry may ye be !

But foul that
wight befall, who Drinks not Health to me !

**These two lines seem intended, in the original,
as a kind of burden or chorus at the end of each stanza; but as they
only intrude upon the measure, the translation were perhaps better
without them.

*** It was the custom at this time to serve up at
entertainments peacock and pheasant
pies, the forma of those elegant birds being externally preserved, and
much pomp bestowed on their appearance. See what has been already said
on this subject in p. 291.

This is a
stubborn fact against the opinion of those who maintain that wine was
not made in England. See the controversy on this subject in vol. iii.

. It has indeed been the chief purpose in
discussing the present subject, to introduce to the reader's notice a
composition of this kind, which is perhaps at the same time to be
regarded as the most ancient drinking song, composed in England, that
is extant. This singular curiosity has been written on a spare leaf in
the middle of a valuable miscellaneous manuscript of the fourteenth
century, preserved in the British Museum, Bibl. Reg. 16, E. viii. It
is probably more than a century older than the manuscript itself, and
must have been composed at a time when the Norman language was very
familiar in England. In the endeavour to translate it, some
difficulties were to be encountered; but it has been an object to
preserve the whole and sometimes literal sense of the original, whilst
from the nature of the English stanza it was impossible to dispense
with amplification.

Illustrations of Shakespeare and of Ancient
Manners: With Dissertations on the Clowns and Fools of Shakespeare ;
on the Collection of Popular Tales Entitled Gesta Romanorum, and on
the English Morris Dance., Francis Douce,T. Tegg, 1839

Anglo Norman Carol Version 2

Lordlings, listen to
our lay.We have come from
far away to seek Christmas;In this mansion we
are told, He his yearly feast
doth hold;'Tis to-day!May joy come from
God above,To all those who
Christmas love.Lordlings, I now
tell you true,Christmas bringeth
unto youOnly mirth;His house he fills
with many a dishOf bread and meat
and also fish,To grace the day.May joy come from
God above,To all those who
Christmas love.To English ale and
Gascon wine,And French, doth
Christmas much incline,And Anjous too;He makes his
neighbour freely drink,So that in sleep his
head doth sinkOften by day.May joy come from
God aboveto all those who
Christmas love.Lords, by Christmas
and the hostOf this mansion hear
my toast--Drink it well-Each must drain his
cup of wine,And I the first will
toss off mine;Thus I advise.Here then I bid you
all Wassail,Cursed be he that
will not say, Drinkhail.May joy come from
God above,To all those who
Christmas love.

- Carols Their Origin, Music and Connection
with Mystery Plays, William J Phillip

1 " The custom of drinking out of the same
cup gave place to each having his cup. When the steward came to the doore
with the Wassel, he was to cry three times, Wassel, Wassel, Wassel,
and then the chappell (chaplein) was to answer with a song."—
Arch^e- Ologia. 2 From Poor
Robin's Almanac.

The piper's wallet,
supplied with the harmony of the muses, in a collection of original songs
composed by two literary gentlemen [T.I.M. Forster and R. Norie.].,Thomas
Ignatius M. Forster, Robert Norie, 1846

Should there be an
inquiry who made the carol,
He is a man whose trust is fully on God,
That he shall go to heaven to the effulgent Mary,
Towards filling the orders where she also is.

Thomas Evans.

* Here the master or mistress of the house
was called on by name to officiate.

i' Dyma amscr yr oedd
arver
Aurhydedd vod o anvon gwirod.

With the succeeding translation of a Welsh Wassail song, the observer of
manners will, perhaps, be pleased. In Welsh, the lines of each couplet,
repeated inversely, still keep the same sense.

Ancient Mysteries
Described: Especially the English Miracle Plays, Founded on Apocryphal New
Testament Story, Extant Among the Unpublished Manuscripts in the British
Museum : Including Notices of Ecclesiastical Shows ...,William
Hone, W. Hone, 1823, p. 104.

1.Come all Chavs and Chavettes for' tis New Year's Day, Pray weld on your baseball caps- into the the fray, We'll go a binge drinking with language most foul, Like rabid rotweilers to the main streets of Slough.

2. Our life's a widescreen, if yer know warra mean, We all love 'X Factor' and 'Pirates of the Caribbeen'. So to celebrate good taste and with customary grace We'll give you a knucklebutty or a glass in the face.

Chorus Wassail, Wassail, from Essex we hail, We'll drink gnatspiss lager and watch Jeremy Kyle, innit! And like that used condom that floats in the loo, We'll flush out the old year and welcome the new!

3. From the taxis they tumble, those birds of a kind, Call each other "baybs" as they eff and they blind, Some they will pewk up and some may get laid, And some will call each other effin slags and in they'll all wade.

4. Now some will present the most wond'rous of sights, As vast tattooed flab spills from dresses too tight, Though their gobs they are mighty, their braincells are few, As they paint the town red while they turn the air blue

Chorus: Wassail, wassail

5. We're on a hair trigger, blue lights flash everywhere, As we stagger on like lemmings from bar unto bar, In the doorways we'll copulate, upon a broken window pane, So join in our wassail, and get pissed out of your brain

Chorus: Wassail, wassail Add:- So let's spread this ancient Essex custom the whole nation through, Let's flush out the old year and welcome the new! So let's toast the work of Peter Andre and of Posh Spice too, Let's flush out the old year and welcome the new!

Here we come a-wasslin' amongst the leaves so green,
Here we come a-wasslin' so far to be seen.
Love and joy come to you, to your wasslin', to you,
Praise God send you a happy New Year,
A happy New Year, a happy New Year,
Praise God send you a happy New Year.

We are not daily beggars that beg from door to door,
But we are neighbours' children who you have seen before.
Love and joy, etc.

Commentators - notably The Shorter New Oxford Book of Carols - have
firmly placed this wassail in the north of England, and so its presence in the
Black Country might be seen as surprising. However,Roud gives 127
instances of the song, of which only three named sources are from Yorkshire and
one from Lancashire ... none of the others are much further north than George,
and some two dozen references are within about 35 miles of Quarry Bank.
George learned it as a boy from his contemporaries, but remembered only these
two verses.

Almost all of Roud's examples are from England, with, in addition Phil
Tanner, from the Gower, and Edwin Ace, from Glamorgan. There are 20 sound
recordings, but Phil Tanner and Billy Buckingham (Topic TSCD666), a group of
wassailers from Drayton, Somerset (Topic TSCD663) and a snatch of Charlie Bate
(Rounder CD 1719) are the only ones on CD.

The TunesAs with folk music everywhere tunes and lyrics join up,
change and then change partners!Here are the tunes we have collected thus far. We have
provided a few different arrangements of the sametune. Enjoy!